Denmark–United States relations

History

Diplomatic relations date back to 1783, when Denmark signed a commercial treaty with the United States. In 1792, Denmark recognized the independence of the United States. In 1801, diplomatic relations were established, and an American legation was opened in Denmark. The diplomatic relations have never experienced an interruption, since 1801.

In 1801, Denmark became an ally of France in its war against Great Britain, and the Danish Navy seized American merchant ships. A treaty of commerce was signed in 1826, and Denmark agreed to pay the United States an indemnity of $650,000. During the American Civil War, Lincoln proposed to purchase the Danish West Indies to better maintain its blockade of the Confederacy. The United States Senate refused to go along, and negotiations continued intermittently for five more decades, but both sides had internal opposition.

World War I

Denmark was neutral in World War I, but suffered a significant disruption in trade, and decided its colonies were a financial burden, especially as the inhabitants were restive. The United States did not want Germany to purchase the islands of Saint Thomas, Saint Croix, and Saint John. In 1916, Denmark sold their Danish West Indies to the United States, and both countries signed the Treaty of the Danish West Indies. The sale for $25 million deal was finalized on 17 January 1917. On 31 March 1917, the United States took possession of the islands and the territory was renamed the Virgin Islands of the United States.

World War II

During World War II, in April 1941, the United States worked with Henrik Kauffmann, Denmark's ambassador to Washington, to establish a temporary protectorate over Greenland.

1945–present

In 1947, the Danish Legation to the United States was upgraded to embassy status by President Truman.

Rejecting Denmark's long history of neutrality, it joined NATO as a founding member in 1949. Danish troops deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force were assigned to the American sector, coming under direct American command.

Denmark is active in Afghanistan and Kosovo as well as a leader in the Baltic region. Former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen reaffirmed that Denmark would remain engaged in Iraq even as its troop levels declined. Denmark was the only Scandinavian country to approve of the American Invasion of Iraq, and Denmark and the United States consult closely on European political and security matters. Denmark shares US views on the positive ramifications of NATO enlargement. Denmark is an active coalition partner in the war on terrorism, and Danish troops are supporting American-led stabilization efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. The United States also engages Denmark in a broad cooperative agenda through the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe, a US policy structure to strengthen US–Nordic–Baltic policy and program coordination.

Russo-Ukrainian war

Denmark, a member of the European Union, sanctioned Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, US President Joe Biden met with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the Oval Office and praised Denmark for "standing up" for Ukraine in war with Russia.

In the following days, Denmark, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands released a joint statement on delivering 'high priority' air defence equipment to Ukraine.

Greenland

Shortly before the purchase of Alaska from the Russian Empire, United States Secretary of State William H. Seward attempted to buy both Greenland and Iceland from Denmark, but was unsuccessful.

Following World War II, the United States developed a geopolitical interest in Greenland, and in 1946, the United States offered to buy Greenland from Denmark for $100,000,000, but Denmark refused to sell.

Pituffik Space Base, the US Space Force base and early warning radar at Thule, North Star Bay, Greenland, a Danish self-governing territory serve as a vital link in western defenses. In August 2004, the Danish and Greenland Home Rule governments gave permission for the early warning radar to be updated in connection with a role in the US ballistic missile defense system. At the same time, agreements were signed to enhance economic, technical, and environmental cooperation between the United States and Greenland.

The United States expressed interest in investing in the resource base of Greenland and in tapping hydrocarbons off the Greenlandic coast. In August 2019, US President Donald Trump proposed to buy the country, prompting Greenlandic Prime Minister Kim Kielsen to issue the statement, "Greenland is not for sale and cannot be sold, but Greenland is open for trade and cooperation with other countries—including the United States."

On 10 June 2020, the United States reopened its consulate in Nuuk, Greenland. The first US consulate in Nuuk closed in 1953.

Following his re-election in 2024, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, prior to taking office, that "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity", to which Prime Minister Múte Egede responded in a written comment: "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom." The US government's insistence on acquiring Greenland has caused diplomatic tensions between the two NATO members. It comes as Denmark is reassessing its relations with the United States. In its 2025 annual report, the Danish Defence Intelligence Service classified the United States as a potential threat to Denmark's and Europe's national security. The report mentions the use of economic weapons, especially tariffs, but also notes that Washington will no longer rule out the possibility of resorting to force, even against one of its partners.

1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash

Main article: 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash

The 1968 Thule Air Base B-52 crash was an accident on 21 January 1968, involving a US Air Force B-52 bomber. The aircraft was carrying four hydrogen bombs on a Cold War "Chrome Dome" alert mission over Baffin Bay when a cabin fire forced the crew to abandon the aircraft before they could carry out an emergency landing at Thule Air Base. Six crew members ejected safely, but one who did not have an ejection seat was killed while trying to bail out. The bomber crashed onto sea ice in North Star Bay, Greenland, causing the nuclear payload to rupture and disperse, which resulted in widespread radioactive contamination. The United States and Denmark launched an intensive clean-up and recovery operation, but the secondary of one of the nuclear weapons could not be accounted for after the operation completed.

Trump administrations

Main article: Greenland crisis

In 2019, President Donald Trump discussed the idea of purchasing Greenland with senior advisers. Numerous Greenlandic and Danish politicians, including the Premier of Greenland and the Prime Minister of Denmark, rebuffed the idea, saying that the island is not for sale. A few days later, Trump abruptly postponed a planned state visit to Denmark just days before, citing their unwillingness to discuss his proposal of buying Greenland.

In late 2024, Trump wrote in Truth Social that the United States has an absolute necessity to own and control Greenland, citing reasons of "national security" and "freedom throughout the world." Trump's claims have been rejected by the Danish government, and 85% of Greenlandic adults surveyed oppose the move. Former first Trump presidency Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief of staff Miles Taylor also indicated that Trump might consider swapping Puerto Rico for Greenland during his presidency.

On January 7, 2025, President-elect Trump stated that he was not ruling out military action to take control of Greenland, emphasizing its strategic importance to the United States but without providing specific details.

In a February 2025, interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, US Vice President J.D. Vance stated that Denmark was "not being a good ally" and declared that "the US does not care what the EU screams at them" regarding Greenland. In the same interview, Vance falsely claimed that 55,000 citizens of Greenland want to be part of the US; a contemporary poll indicated that only six percent of Greenland's population supports the idea of joining the United States.

In early May 2025, the Danish government summoned the United States Ambassador to Denmark in response to a Wall Street Journal report that officials working for Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had instructed the heads of the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency and Defense Intelligence Agency to collect intelligence on Greenland's independence movement and the attitudes to American resource extraction efforts in the territory.

In late August 2025, the Danish government again summoned the US ambassador after at least three American citizens, allegedly with ties to Trump, were reported attempting covert operations to foment secessionism. DR reported that one American was attempting to gather a list of Greenlanders to recruit for a secessionist movement.

In December 2025, the Danish government once again summoned the US ambassador after Trump announced that Louisiana governor Jeff Landry was appointed as special envoy to Greenland. Landry said he will "make Greenland part of the U.S."

In January 2026, Trump stated he would not rule out military force to take Greenland. This comment drew reactions immediately. Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Vivian Motzfeldt, the Foreign Ministers of Denmark and Greenland respectively, requested a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that a US takeover of Greenland would end NATO. US allies in Europe released a statement saying, "Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland." Hours later, the White House issued its own response. Trump called anything but a total takeover of Greenland "unacceptable" ahead of a meeting between the American and Danish foreign ministers.

On January 23, 2026, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen visited Greenland to express support for the people and the island's self-governing government, following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump indicating his willingness to annex the territory. Trump had previously discussed strengthening security in the Arctic region with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Both the Danish and Greenlandic governments have affirmed that the island's sovereignty is indisputable but remain open to discussions on issues such as security and economic development. The crisis eased after Trump withdrew threats of force and new tariffs.

Trade

Denmark's active liberal trade policy in the European Union, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Trade Organization largely coincides with US interests. The US is Denmark's largest non-European trade partner with about 5% of Danish merchandise trade. Denmark's role in European environmental and agricultural issues and its strategic location at the entrance to the Baltic Sea have made Copenhagen a center for US agencies and the private sector dealing with the Nordic/Baltic region.

Trade balance

The following chart shows dollar figures from the US Census Bureau's Trade in Goods page. In positive columns, the US exported less than it imported.

State visits

In 1967, Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik visited the United States.

Former President Bill Clinton visited Denmark in July 1997, and again in 2005 and 2007. American President George W. Bush made an official visit to Copenhagen in July 2005, and Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen met with Bush at Camp David in June 2006.

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama traveled to Denmark to support the Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics in October 2009, and in December 2009, Obama visited Denmark again for the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference. In March 2009, former Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen met former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Gaza Donor Conference, and again in a NATO meeting in April 2010, where they met in Estonia.

In March 2009, Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary visited the Midwest. They visited The Danish Home in Chicago, and the Danish villages of Elk Horn, Ames, Kimballton and the Grand View University in Iowa. In Nebraska, the couple visited Dana College. "States like Iowa and Nebraska boast numerous examples of Danish settlements ... Both universities have made great strides to become highly recognized institutions of higher learning, as well as strengthening ties between Denmark and the United States", Crown Prince Frederik said.

On 9 March 2011, Obama met with former Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen in the White House, where they discussed counter-terrorism, the Arab Spring and environmental issues.

On 30 March 2017, Rasmussen visited President Donald Trump in the United States. Discussion points were the state of the bilateral relations as well as counter-terrorism, economic opportunities, and NATO.

On 20 August 2019, President Donald Trump abruptly postponed a state visit to Denmark just days after the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had declined Trump's offer to buy Greenland, saying that the island is not for sale.

Resident diplomatic missions

• Denmark has an embassy in Washington, D.C., and has consulates-general in Chicago, Houston, New York City and Palo Alto. In March 2023, it was announced that Prince Joachim of Denmark would be moving to Washington to take up the role of defense industry attaché at the Danish Embassy from September 2023.
• United States has an embassy in Copenhagen and has a consulate in Nuuk, Greenland.

File:Denmark embassy 2.JPG|Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C. File:Den amerikanske ambassade i København.JPG|Embassy of the United States in Copenhagen File:U.S. Consulate Nuuk.jpg|Consulate of the United States in Nuuk

References

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